Germ Cell Derivation from Pluripotent Stem Cells for Understanding In Vitro Gametogenesis.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have developed considerably in recent years; however, they cannot rectify germ cell aplasia, such as non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and oocyte maturation failure syndrome. In vitro gametogenesis is a promising technology to overcome infertility, particularly germ cell aplasia. Early germ cells, such as primordial germ cells, can be relatively easily derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs); however, further progression to post-meiotic germ cells usually requires a gonadal niche and signals from gonadal somatic cells.

Association Between the Normal-Density Psoas Muscle Index and Handgrip Strength or Gait Speed in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients.

This study aimed to evaluate the association between the psoas muscle (PM) index with or without fatty infiltration and various indices associated with muscle mass in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We included stable HD patients ( = 83). The collected data included subjective global assessment (SGA) score, ASM/Ht (appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by the squared height in meters), gait speed (GS; m/s), and handgrip strength (HGS; kg).

Peri-Implantitis and Concomitant Perigraftitis of an Implant Placed in a Site That Had Alveolar Ridge Preservation Three Decades Earlier: A Case Report With Human Histology.

Introduction: Although alveolar ridge preservation may minimize alveolar ridge shrinkage following tooth extraction, there is a paucity of data on the effects of alveolar ridge preservation on implant-related outcomes. The purpose of this manuscript is to report on peri-implantitis of an implant placed at a site that had alveolar ridge preservation three decades earlier, and the subsequent dislodgement of an approximately 1-cm grafted bone specimen during degranulation 4 months after implant reversal.

Case Presentation: A 58-year-old male had #18 removed and the extraction socket grafted in the 1980s.

Prognostic Significance of Tumor Location in T2 Gallbladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: The , subdivided T2 GBC into T2a and T2b. However, there still exist a lack of evidence on the prognostic significance of tumor location. The aim of the present study was to examine the existing evidence to determine the prognostic significance of tumor location of T2 gallbladder cancer (GBC) and to evaluate the optimal surgical extent according to tumor location.

Efficient Generation of Neural Stem Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells Using a Three-Dimensional Differentiation System.

Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are useful tools for studying early embryonic development and tissue formation in mammals. Since neural lineage differentiation is a major subject of organogenesis, the development of efficient techniques to induce neural stem cells (NSCs) from pluripotent stem cells must be preceded. However, the currently available NSC differentiation methods are complicated and time consuming.

TGF-β1 Receptor Inhibitor SB525334 Attenuates the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition of Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells via the TGF-β1 Signaling Pathway.

We investigated the effect of SB525334 (TGFβ receptor type 1 (TβRI) inhibitor) on the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling pathway in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) and a peritoneal fibrosis mouse model. In vitro experiments were performed using HPMCs. HPMCs were treated with TGFβ1 and/or SB525334.

Peritoneal Protein Loss Is Not Associated With Sarcopenia in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Maintenance of a peritoneal membrane is essential for maintaining long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). Peritoneal protein loss (PPL) is basically the loss of an essential nutrient, which may lead to malnutrition. We aimed to evaluate the association between PPL and sarcopenia in PD patients.

The -Specific Truncated NLR Protein CbCN Enhances the Innate Immunity against .

Chili pepper () is an important fruit and spice used globally, but its yield is seriously threatened by anthracnose. is particularly valuable as it carries advantageous disease resistance genes. However, most of the genes remain to be identified.

Comparison of lean mass indices as predictors of mortality in incident peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Few studies have considered optimal adjusted lean mass indices for prediction of clinical outcomes in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We aimed to evaluate clinical variables using various adjusted indices in PD patients.

Methods: Total 528 incident PD patients were included.

Optic Nerve Engraftment of Neural Stem Cells.

Purpose: To evaluate the integrative potential of neural stem cells (NSCs) with the visual system and characterize effects on the survival and axonal regeneration of axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs).

Methods: For in vitro studies, primary, postnatal rat RGCs were directly cocultured with human NSCs or cultured in NSC-conditioned media before their survival and neurite outgrowth were assessed. For in vivo studies, human NSCs were transplanted into the transected rat optic nerve, and immunohistology of the retina and optic nerve was performed to evaluate RGC survival, RGC axon regeneration, and NSC integration with the injured visual system.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Postoperative Rehabilitation in Older Patients With Hip Fractures.

Objective: The incidence of hip fractures is increasing worldwide with the aging population, causing a challenge to healthcare systems due to the associated morbidities and high risk of mortality. After hip fractures in frail geriatric patients, existing comorbidities worsen and new complications are prone to occur. Comprehensive rehabilitation is essential for promoting physical function recovery and minimizing complications, which can be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach.

Catalytic hairpin DNA assembly-based chemiluminescent assay for the detection of short SARS-CoV-2 target cDNA.

Colorimetric sensors are recognized as a promising means for target molecule detection as they provide rapid, cost-effective, and facile sensing visible to the naked eye. Challenges remain though in terms of their detection sensitivity and specificity for short-length target genes. Herein, we demonstrate the successful combination of the catalytic hairpin DNA assembly (CHA) approach with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-mimicking techniques for a simple, sensitive, and sequence-specific colorimetric assay to detect short SARS-CoV-2 target cDNA.

Behavioral Phenotyping in a Murine Model of -Associated Parkinson Disease.

Mutations in , the gene encoding glucocerebrosidase, are common genetic risk factors for Parkinson disease (PD). While the mechanism underlying this relationship is unclear, patients with -associated PD often have an earlier onset and faster progression than idiopathic PD. Previously, we modeled -associated PD by crossing haploinsufficient mice with mice overexpressing a human mutant α-synuclein transgene (), observing an earlier demise, shorter life span and faster symptom progression, although behavioral testing was not performed.

Characteristics of Central Visual Field Progression in Eyes with Optic Disc Hemorrhage.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics and rate of central visual field loss after optic disc hemorrhage (DH).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Three hundred forty-three eyes of 220 subjects who had ≥3 years of follow-up with a minimum of 5 visits with 10-2 and 24-2 visual field (VF) were recruited.

Identification of ortho catechol-containing isoflavone as a privileged scaffold that directly prevents the aggregation of both amyloid β plaques and tau-mediated neurofibrillary tangles and its in vivo evaluation.

In this study, polyhydroxyisoflavones that directly prevent the aggregation of both amyloid β (Aβ) and tau were expediently synthesized via divergent Pd(0)-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and then biologically evaluated. By preliminary structure-activity relationship studies using thioflavin T (ThT) assays, an ortho-catechol containing isoflavone scaffold was proven to be crucial for preventing both Aβ aggregation and tau-mediated neurofibrillary tangle formation. Additional TEM experiment confirmed that ortho-catechol containing isoflavone 4d significantly prevented the aggregation of both Aβ and tau.

Efficacy of cranial microcurrent stimulation in patients with tension-type headache: A prospective, randomised, double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of cranial microcurrent stimulation (CMS) in patients with tension-type headaches (TTH).

Methods: This study was designed as a prospective, randomised, double-blinded and sham-controlled trial. A total of 22 patients with tension-type headache were selected as our study participants and randomly assigned into two groups: CMS group (n = 11) and Sham group (n = 11).

Association Between Alkaline Phosphatase and Muscle Mass, Strength, or Physical Performance in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an indicator for checking liver or bone disorders, but recent studies have shown the possibility of an additive indicator beyond the simple mineral-bone status in dialysis patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ALP level and various indicators for malnutrition, physical performance, or hospitalization in patients on hemodialysis (HD). This study was an observational study ( = 84).

DJ-1 Can Replace FGF-2 for Long-Term Culture of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in Defined Media and Feeder-Free Condition.

Conventional human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) cultures require high concentrations of expensive human fibroblast growth factor 2 (hFGF-2) for hPSC self-renewal and pluripotency in defined media for long-term culture. The thermal instability of the hFGF-2 mandates media change every day, which makes hPSC culture costly and cumbersome. Human DJ-1 (hDJ-1) can bind to and stimulate FGF receptor-1.

Validation of the SARC-F for Assessing Sarcopenia in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis.

Objective: Proper screening or diagnosis of sarcopenia (SP) is important to obtain favorable outcomes in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Previous studies have shown that the SARC-F is associated with various parameters of SP in elderly populations. In this study, we aimed to validate the SARC-F questionnaire for predicting SP in patients on PD.

Extrusion of shrimp shell-polylactic acid composites: Dataset for the impact of surfactants on their morphology and thermal properties.

Shrimp shell waste obtained from Louisiana Gulf shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) was heat-treated at varying temperatures and ground into a powder by ball-milling. The powder was used with and without surface treatment with maleic anhydride or stearic acid to form shrimp shell - polylactic acid (PLA) composite granules by solution processing and mechanical grinding. These granules were used as feedstock for the extrusion of composite filaments.

Mesenchymal stromal cell mitochondrial transfer to human induced T-regulatory cells mediates FOXP3 stability.

The key obstacle to clinical application of human inducible regulatory T cells (iTreg) as an adoptive cell therapy in autoimmune disorders is loss of FOXP3 expression in an inflammatory milieu. Here we report human iTreg co-cultured with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) during short-term ex vivo expansion enhances the stability of iTreg FOXP3 expression and suppressive function in vitro and in vivo, and further that a key mechanism of action is MSC mitochondrial (mt) transfer via tunneling nanotubules (TNT). MSC mt transfer is driven by mitochondrial metabolic function (CD39/CD73 signaling) in proliferating iTreg and promotes iTreg expression of FOXP3 stabilizing factors BACH2 and SENP3.

Current Issues and Technical Advances in Cultured Meat Production: A Review.

As the global population grows, we need a stable protein supply to meet the demands. Although plant-derived protein sources are widely available, animal meat maintains its popularity as a high-quality and savory protein source. Recently, cultured meat, also known as meat, has been suggested as a meat analog produced through cell culture technology.